SPACE EXPLORATION MUST BE RE-ENERGIZED

In 1957, Sputnik galvanized our country to invest billions to train a generation of Americans to provide the vision to "go where no man had gone before."

The Apollo moon program and the Hubble space telescope are legacy programs from that era.

At the 50th anniversary of Sputnik, we are in danger again of becoming a spectator nation in the exploration of space, rather than a leader. Other nations are now taking initiatives in developing space programs. The space shuttles will be retired soon, and President Bush's space initiative has yet to generate the national commitment to re-invent our space program, as did President Kennedy's famous proclamation to place "a man on the moon by the end of the (1960s) decade."

We must act to reverse this trend by supporting such efforts as Gov. Linda Lingle's Hawai'i Innovation Council.

All Hawai'i residents can participate by encouraging their children to pursue technological careers to help position Hawai'i as a leader in advancing the technologies that will allow us to make voyages to the stars, continuing the ancient Hawaiian tradition as consummate sailors who navigated the immense Pacific Ocean.

MIDEAST

U.S. MUST REBUILD IRAQ, SET TIMELINE TO LEAVE

The situation in Iraq is terrible. Should the U.S. stay or get out? The next president, along with Congress, will have to make some monumental decisions.

President Bush was wrong in ungluing Iraq, removing the glue — Saddam Hussein. The U.S. takeover of Iraq and overthrow of Saddam were unjust acts. We broke the pottery, as former Secretary of State Colin Powell has said. Now, it's just as unjust and immoral to leave Iraq in chaos. Auwe.

President Bush created a terrible sinkhole that's ungluing our economy, national unity and international respect.

We need to keep up with developments in Iraq and the presidential candidates. When it's election time, let's vote. Let's also pray for our current president, present leaders and future leaders so that they will lead our country on the right and just course with prudence and wisdom.

Personally, I believe the U.S. should do its best to rebuild Iraq, set a timeline to get out and then get out. Even when the U.S. does leave, the U.S. needs to be vigilant and responsible. Let's not give up hope.

PEOPLE'S RIGHTS

WHY AREN'T WE ALSO HELPING THE BURMESE?

If President Bush is so concerned with the suppression of people's rights in Iraq, why don't we go into Burma and free the people there from the cowardly and brutal suppression by an illegal "government?"

Oh, that's right — they don't have any oil.

Well, what about the suppression and silencing of people who disagree with the ruling powers' self-serving way of doing things?

Oh, that's right — that is our government's way of doing things. Hmm.

SUPERFERRY

MAUI, KAUA'I CLEARLY DON'T WANT OAHUANS

Leslie Jones states in a Sept. 28 letter: "I honestly do not get the O'ahu mindset that we are unfriendly or hostile to our island brethren."

I don't know where the letter writer has been for the past several weeks, but it has been very apparent by the actions of our neighbors on Kaua'i and Maui that people from O'ahu are not welcome on their islands.

While it is unfair to generalize this remark, the vocal brethren on our "Neighbor Islands" have been very clear. In television news stories, in newspaper stories and in letters to the editor in Hawai'i's dailies, citizens of the neighboring counties have stated that, in essence, they don't want O'ahu's urbanites and all their woes invading the neighboring islands.

Even Maui Councilwoman Michelle Anderson stated in court that, "We don't want O'ahu's urban problems brought to Maui, not to mention drug dealers and criminals of all sorts." She says this as if Maui is problem free, a community without crime, homeless and drugs. If this isn't showing some sort of animosity or hostility toward O'ahu's citizens, then I don't know what is.

While the emotions and passion on both sides of this issue are running high, and it is understandable that those on the Neighbor Islands would like to preserve life as they currently have it for time immemorial, to say that there is no hostility toward O'ahu's residents is disingenuous at best.

PARADE FLOAT SHOWED MAUI SPIRIT, CREATIVITY

What a great picture of the mini Superferry for the Maui County Fair Parade on Page B1 Sept. 28. It shows the creativity and spirit of Maui people and in itself is a great float.

It would be great to have that float participate in the 61st Annual Children's Parade on O'ahu in November.

We would like to invite them to come, but, alas, no more ferry to bring them here.

BIG ISLAND

HAWAI'I NEEDS MORE NEIGHBORS LIKE PACES

Gussie and John Pace should be honored for their practicing of malama 'aina ("9,000 acres to be preserved on Big Isle," Sept. 29).

Many people move here because of the beauty of these islands. However, after moving here some tend to forget what measures are needed to keep these islands beautiful and pristine. Soon, large gated developments are constructed; malls with parking structures, golf courses using millions of gallons of water become the norm.

Please don't get me wrong, we all have some use for these amenities, but these become more and more essential rather than the beauty we are all responsible to maintain.

We need more neighbors like Gussie and John Pace. I am amazed by their generosity and am thankful for their graciousness.

PROPERTY TAX

IT WAS TAXPAYERS WHO GOT STUCK IN BILL BUNGLE

This letter is in regard to The Advertiser's July 25 article concerning the $50,000 needed to reprint and mail thousands of bungled property tax bills that got stuck in a bureaucratic time warp.

It was the taxpayers who really got stuck. To make matters worse, no practical solution was derived at and no alternative action considered that could have prevented use of the taxpayers' hard-earned money.

My recommendation would have been to arm each city employee with a pen, have them all sit at their desks with those erroneous property tax bills and line out the numbers 6 and 7 in the tax year 2006-2007 and change it to 7 and 8.

If this maneuver sounds absurd, ridiculous and stupid, so was spending $50,000 to cover somebody's posterior.

Whatever happened to the all-important and reliable proof-readers? Have they gone the way of the Neanderthal? Looking over each other's shoulder for errors rather than faults would be quite effective at this juncture.

Quoting City Treasurer Edlyn Taniguchi: "It's never happened before, to my knowledge and, believe me, it'll never happen again." I'll go one better. Don't count on it. Never say never. To err is human; to forgive divine.

STREETS

CENTURY BIKERS FOUND POTHOLES EVERYWHERE

It was a magnificent Century Bike Ride on Sunday.

Thousands took to their bikes, wheeling through intersections kept safe by Honolulu's finest.

Was it just ironic or is there a conspiracy to keep us off our bikes? Those who protect and serve under this very administration were telling us at many a turn, "watch out for the potholes!"

Potholes were everywhere. Could any administration of any city find it so impossible to fill potholes, when more than 1,000 voters took to the streets on their bikes? Surely a Harvard graduate, a Fulbright scholar, one who has served under four presidents knows how to fix potholes. Right?

It has to be a pothole conspiracy, as, God forbid, some of us found a real alternative to traffic congestion.